In addition to the solutions for obtaining energy from the environment or reducing consumption, there are also alternative networks to 5G that require little electricity to operate, although they have some limitations with respect to the fifth generation of mobile telephony.
One of them is the Low Power Wide Area (LPWA), low power wireless networks that cover a large area but do not allow a large amount of information to be transmitted.
This type of technology does not serve to transmit videos or voice in real time, but for sensors such as those of temperature found in the middle of the mountain or in a buoy in the ocean, to which it is enough to transmit a few bits each Half an hour at a very low rate.
LPWA networks are an alternative to 5G in those cases where battery life or capacity is a limiting factor. The mass use of IoT devices is linked to the deployment of this type of networks in those cases of use where latency or bandwidth are not critical aspects.
The networks called LTE-M and NB-IoT join a whole portfolio of network solutions adapted to the new generation of mobile phones.
Traditionally, companies that wanted to connect objects that were physically far away did not have the space or power to make the appropriate network deployments. For years, what they did was use special and specific networks, such as 2G that is cheaper and uses less energy than LTE, but with the development of new standards, this technology could return to the forefront and attract the interest of large operators.
LTE-M es la más rápida
This standard allows to reach transmission speeds of one megabit, while NB-IoT only reaches 250 Kbps, but in exchange it makes possible a longer battery life. Both have a greater reach than conventional LTE networks and are more powerful through walls and floors.
Several operators have already tested its operation. For example, the network deployed by AT&T has been tested with merchandise containers equipped with tracking devices, smart storage pallets and even with soda dispensers to control the drinks people choose.
Currently, the networks that use the two new LTE modalities are the main alternatives for the deployment of a network for the Internet of Things. But to opt for one you don't just have to look at speed and range. There are other factors to consider as security. Both LTE-M and NB-IoT work in network spectra in which operators control both who accesses them and their priority.
Analysts are aware that not all of these networks will survive in the future. Some will disappear, and operators will be forced to adopt others to offer connectivity to their clients interested in using networks for the Internet of Things. In this regard, traditional operators are the ones with the most advantage, since they are not solely dedicated to this sector.
